Rail brace



J. H. ASSELIN June 19, 1951 RAIL BRACE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28, 1947 June 19, 1951 J. H. ASSELIN 2,557,494

RAIL BRACE Filed April 28, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 19, 1951 J. H. ASSELIN 2,557,494

' RAIL BRACE Filed April 28, 1947 e Sheets-Sheet 4 .JHMES AC/ZSGELl/V;

J. H. ASSELIN June 19, 1951 RAIL BRACE a Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 28, 1947 Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to rail braces for railway track, and this application is a continuation-inpart of application Serial No. 593,979, filed May 16, 1945, now Patent No. 2,426,137, dated August 19, 1947.

It is a well-known phenomena that as a train approaches. a section of track, it sets up in that track a vertical up-and-down wave or floating action of the rail. Such rail "wave motion is inherent in train movement over track and apparently cannot be prevented, even if this would be desirable. There are in fact many reasons which point to the fact that such flexibility in track is both necessary and important. Be that as it may, such wave motion has rendered it impossible to provide a rail brace of the bolted type in which the securing bolt or bolts will not loosen in time as the result of the vibratory forces set up by such wave motion of the rail.

The present invention is directed to a rail brace which is a combination of the bolted and nonbolted types, that is, which is provided. with one or more bolts which are adapted to secure the brace member to the tie plate and also with other means for securing the brace in place which cooperate with the bolt securing means and are also capable of acting independently.

The invention accepts the fact that securing bolts will. in time become loose, and that if not tightened from time to time, the effectiveness of the rail brace will be diminished or completely lost, if they be the only means provided. Consequently, the invention provides, besides the boltsecuring means, another fastening arrangement, which not only cooperates with the bolt-securing means but also effectively operates to maintain. the rail brace in fully operative bracing position even after the securing bolts referred to have become loosened, or even if such bolts should I by accident become broken. Such other. fastening means as the invention provides are of a special nature. and in. the preferred form are comprised of a block secured to the tie plate, and a wedge disposed between the block and the brace member, the connection between the wedge and the brace member being in the form of a cylinder and socket joint, and the connection between the wedge and the block being such as to permit a limited pivoting or hing ing movement ofjthe wedge.

Thus, accepting the fact that the securing bolt or bolts comprising one or" the fastening means for the brace member will become loosened by vibration, the brace member will still be maintained in rail-bracing position as the result of the structure referred to above. Moreover, such structure comprises means for urging the brace member into rail-bracing position before the bolts are initially tightened, and then cooperates with them in securing the brace in bracing position before/the bolts become loosened by vibration.

It is to be understood that, in fact, both fastening means are equally important to the invention, Both means play an essential and vital role in cooperating to provide an effective and satisfactory rail brace.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide such a rail brace. I

Attention is called to the fact that with such structure, and after the securing bolts have become loosened, the other securing means-is so constructed that the wave motion of the rail is permitted to a limited degree, but it is con trolled above the tie plates, and only a minor portion is permitted to transcend through the tie plates into the ties or through the ties to the ballast. By so controlling and limiting the effect of this motion, the wear will be between the rail and tie plate, or between steel and steel. Thus wear on ties and loosening of ballast is greatly reduced. This is made possible by reason of the cylinder and socket connection between the brace member and the wedge, and because of the limited pivoting or hinging action per mitted between the wedge and the block. Such,

structure provides the flexibility necessary to.

accommodate the wave or floating movement of the rail as a train passes thereover. It is an important object of the invention to provide a rail brace having such-characteristics.

Still further, adjustable rail bracesnow known and which use ratchet toothed wedges or the like, are highly susceptible to wear, rust and,

corrosion due to weather conditions and salt brine. Many of them, moreover, are complicated by having too many parts, thus materially. increasing, the original cost, the cost of installation, and the cost of maintaining proper adjustment. These difliculties and disadvantages have been overcome to agreat extent by the present.

invention and it is a primary object of the invention to accomplish these aims.

The invention also makes use of a member which is rigid with the tie plate and extends upwardly therefrom and over which the brace member is disposed. This member is adapted to perform a triple function. It prevents the brace member from moving longitudinally of the rail. It serves as an abutment for the rail preventing lateral movement thereof, and it also serves as a means for anchoring the securing bolt or bolts in such a manner that they may be inserted and removed without the necessity of passing them upwardly through a hole in the tie plate. It is a further object of the invention to provide a rail brace having a structure and with such advantages.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a rail brace which may be used on switch rails, in turnouts, spring frogs, guard rails, curved rail in track and on tangent track. Other uses will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Records show that a large percentage of railroad accidents are the result of too wide track gauge. The gauge of track isfrequently maintained by gauge rods which are connected to the base of one rail and with the base of the opposite rail. These are electrically insulated when in a Signal section area. Gauge rods have several defects. The insulation fouls, especially in wet weather, thus short circuiting the signal system, but a more important defect is that the gauge of the bases only of the rails is maintained without assuring the gauge of the tops of the rails. The rail tops tip outwardly thus throwing the rails out of gauge. Where, as in curves, frogs, guard rails and switch rails, the track is subjected to abnormal thrusts, the gauge of the rails thus frequently becomes too wide. In curves it has been found that the outer end of the base plate actually cuts into the tie one-half /3) inch by side thrust of the rail top, thus widening the gauge one (1) inch. The present invention applied at these sections of track will avoid these disadvantages of gauge rods and will prevent too wide gauge.

The invention also has for an object the provision of a rail brace which engages the rail beneath the head of the rail and also on the upper surface of the base of the rail, the base member being disposed to provide an excellent bearing pressure against the rail at both points. This constant brace pressure maintains canted rails in alignment with the bevel tread wheels, and has the additional advantage of obtaining greater wear of the rails.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of one form of the invention, the rail being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the parts;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the modification illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through another modified form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9;

Fig. 11 is a top plan View of a tie plate showing another manner of anchoring a securing bolt, and

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view thereof on the line I2I2 of Fig. 11.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated on Figs. 1-5 inclusive, the numeral I0 indicates a railroad tie on which is disposed a rectangular metal base or tie plate II. The upper surface of the tie plate II is provided with a transverse shallow cut-out or depression I2. The depression results in two shoulders I3 and I4, the former acting as a transverse rail abutment, and the other I4 acts as an abutment for a block I5 which is secured to the tie plate II by means of welding or the like I6.

Th rail IT is disposed with one (inner) edge of the base in engagement with the shoulder I3 and the other edge in engagement with the wall It of a positioning member I9 which is welded as at 20 or otherwise secured to the tie plate II so as to be rigid therewith. The rail Il may be secured to the tie ID by means of spikes 2| which are driven into the tie I0 through openings 22 in the tie plate II until the heads of the spikes engage the base flanges of the rail. The tie plate II is also provided with openings 23 through which additional spikes or screws (not shown) may be driven into the tie to secure the tie plate 7 I a to the tie.

I9 is a parallel with the shoulder I3 and is so The tie plate I I, intermediate its ends, is provided, as stated, with the member I9 which is rigid with the tie plate and extends upwardly from the upper surface of the depression I2. The upstanding vertical wall I8 of the member disposed as to provide as abutment for the edge of the base of the rail I1 opposite that engaged by the shoulder I3, and thus prevents the rail from moving laterally. The member I9 has an upper tapered surface 24 which rounds into a forward wall 9 which is at an angle with respect to the wall I 8. As indicated, the upper surface 24 of the positioning member I9 is tapered. In fact, it is tapered or slopes downwardly in two directions, first from the upper edge of the vertical wall I8 toward the wall 9, and also slightly from the left to right in Fig. 5.

The positioning member I9 is provided with a rectangular cut-out 25 the side walls of which are substantially at right angles to the wall 9, said cut-out being adapted to receive the head 26 of a securing bolt 2! (see Figs. 3 and 4). rectangular cut-out 25 communicates with a U-shaped cut-out 28 to receive the shank 29 of the securing bolt 21. An opening 1 in the base of wall I8 communicates with the out-out 25 to prevent the accumulation of dirt in the cut-out. It will be noted from Fig. 4 that the securing bolt 2'! when inserted in place has its head 26 disposed with its edges in angular, non-parallel relationship to the wall I8 and consequently also to the rail I1.

The positioning member I9 preferably may be welded as at 20 to the upper surface of the tie plate II all around the edges of the member I! except along the base of the wall I8 and around the edges of the rectangular cut-out 25. To add strength to the member I9 and also to increase the length of the welding surface, the member is provided with two lateral wings 30 and 3I which in effect are buttressing elements and the outer The surfaces of which are ciirved into the plane of theuppersurfaice zlror thepositioning member I9. These elements also perform another very important function which will be referred to later on'r'As indicated, the upper surface 24 of the positioning "member I9 is tapered. In fact", it is tapered or slopes downwardly intwo directions-first from the upper edge of "the vertical- 'wall I8 toward the wall 9, and

the "left to right in Fig. 5.

The base or tie plate II, near its outer end, as indicated, is provided with the rectangular'bloek I5 disposed transversely thereof. The blocli' lfi may be integrally formed with the tie plate, or may, as shown, be welded thereto as-at l6; The inner surface of the block l5'and the rail en'- gaging surface of the shoulder I3 are parallel. For purposes of the invention, as will be more clearly apparent hereinafter, the inner surface of the" block I5 is outwith a groove 32 which exalso slightly from tends from one end of the block to the other, and

inserted between the two as will be hereinafter described. From the semi-cylindrical solid portion B ithe brace member 33 extends to the rail, the upper surface 36 of the brace member being first horizontally flat and then sloping upwardly to engage the under surface o'f'the head of the rail I'i. Two side walls 3'! and 38 connect with the wedge engaging portion 34 and with the upper surface 36. The lower edges of theseside walls 37 and 38 engage the upper surface of the base of the rail IT. The web of the rail I1 is not engaged by the brace member.

As will be apparent from'Fig. 4, the semi-cylindrical solid portion 34 of the brace member 33 has an inner wall 8 which is in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the semi-cylindrical solid portion 34 of the brace member and also parallel to the wall 9 of the positioning member I9. From Fig. 3 it will be noted that the upper portion of the wall 8 curves toward the rail and merges with under surface of the top portion of the brace member. i

The upper surface 36 of the brace member 33 is provided with three holes 39, 40, 4|. In the embodiment of Figs." 1-5, the central hole II is adapted to have the securing bolt 21 passed therethrough when the device is assembled.

Attention is now directed to the wedge member :32. It will be seen from the drawings that this wedge member 42 is a block which is generally wedge-shaped in form and which is longer than the block I5. On one side the wedge 42 has a laterally extending tongue 43 which in section is in the shape of a truncated triangle and is complementary to the shape of the groove 32 in the block I5 but has a cross-sectional area slightly less than the cross-sectional area of the groove 32.

The brace engaging surface 44 of the wedge This is an irregularly p nded into'p c'e w t a S ed eh mme births like, 'and'it will "be seen" that as" the wedge" is ip'sert'edthe brace member33 will be'forced in:- wardly so as tden'gage the" rail I'l under the rail head and "also along"the upper surfaceef the base "of the rail, as shown inFigs. '1 and 3, After the wedge has been thus inserted it may be locked in position by means of a cotter'pin 45 which is adapted to be inserted in one of the series of holes 46 in the end of the tongue 43' of'the wedge 42 as" shown in Fig. 2. Itwi l'l of course be understood, that during the assembly, and before the wedge is inserted"; the securing bolt 21 is first'inserted in the positioning'imember I9 with its head 26 in the rectangula'r cut-out 25 'so that the brace member 33 may be positioned over the positioning member I 9 with theshank of the securing bolt 21 extending upwa'rdly through the hole 40in the upper surface of the=brace member." The assembly of the device is completed by disposing a plate 4! (provided with a hole 48 for the passage of the bolt 27) on'the upper surface 36 of the brace'member; disposing a washer l s on the bolt; and capping the bolt with acapnut 50 which is tightly screwed in place,

It will be seen, particularly in Fig. 4, that the wings 30 and 3! of the'positioning member I9, engage the side walls 31 and 38 of the brace'inem ber I9 when the latter is disposed in operative position. Consequently, the member I9 prevents the brace member 33 from moving'longitudinally of the rail as it has a normal tendency to do, particularly when the wedge is being inserted. It will also be noted that the wings 3ll and 3| are curved from the vertical into the plane of the upper surface of the positioning member I9, thus facilitating the placement of the brace member 33 over the positioning member.

The positioning member l9 thus performs three valuable functions. First, it provides an abutment for the rail. Secondly, it provides means whereby the securing bolt 21 may be inserted and anchored after the tie or base plate has been disposed in place, and, finally, the member I9 performs the very valuable function of positioning the brace member and insuring the brace member against movement longitudinally of the rail at all times and particularly when the wedge is being driven into place.

in Figs. 6 and '7 inclusive. In this modification,

the structure "differs in that the securing bolt is not employed. The brace member BI is held in position by the member 52 and'by the wedge 53. Since no bolts are employed, the upper surface of the brace member 5| need not be provided with holes as in the brace member 33 of the em bodiment of Figs. 1 5.

Another modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 8-19 inclusive. 'This modification is similar toftheembodiment illustrated in Figs.

saga;

1-5 inclusive, except in the following particulars: The member 54, corresponding to the member IQ of the first embodiment, is likewise secured to the upper surface of the tie. plate. It has a vertical wall 55 against which the edge of the rail abuts. It is not, however, provided with lateral side wings, but is ofi-rectangula in shape with its end and forward walls being rounded off towards its upper surface. Moreover, as shown, provision is here made for two securing bolts 56 and 51, each of which is adapted to be inserted in cut-outs, 58 and 59, similar to the cut-outs 25 and 28 in the first embodiment, It will be notedthat the brace member (Fig. is provided with two holes 39 and M (besides the central hole 40) to accommodate the two securing bolts 58, 51 when such brace member is used with the embodiment of Figs. 8-10.

The embodiment of Figs. 8-10 inclusive also differs in that the wedge 60 has a raised upper surface 6| provided with a series of holes 62. Instead of the plate l! used in the first embodiment, the modification of Figs. 8-10 makes use of a plate 63 which has a portion adapted to extend over the Wedge. The overlapping portion is provided with holes 64 which are adapted to align with the holes 62 in the wedge 80 so that a cotter pin 65 can be passed through aligned holes in the plate 63 and in the wed e 60 so as to lock the wedge in place.

Finally, instead of employingmembers such as the member is of Figs. l-5, and the member 54 of Figs. 8-10, the bolt may be passed through a hole in the tie-plate from below. This, as will be apparent, is subject to disadvantages which to some extent may be overcome by employing the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. In these figures it will be noted that the tie plate 66 is provided with a hole 67 which in diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the head of a round bevel headed bolt 58. Communicating with the hole 61 is a slot 59 the lower portion of which is beveled, while the upper portion of which is just wide enough to receive the shank of the bolt 63. It will be apparent that with such an arrangement it will be possible to insert the bolt from above by dropping it in the hole 61 and then sliding it in the slot 69 in a direction toward the rail.

since the head is disposed beneath the beveled portion of the slot 59.

The various forms of the invention illustrated and described herein are by way of example and it should be obvious that some changes may be made in the shape and relationship of the parts without departing from the invention. The invention therefore is not to be limited except as In the position shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the bolt is held securely in place surfaces of said brace member and said second abutment being contained in non-parallel vertical planes, a wedge having side surfaces complementary to said facing surfaces of said brace member and said second abutment, a tongueand-groove connection between said wedge and said second abutment, said groove having a vertical distance greater than said tongue, and facing surfaces of said wedge and said brace member forming a cylinder and socket joint when the wedge is driven in place in a longitudinal direction between said brace member and said second abutment, and a positioning member rigid with the base plate and extending upwardly from the upper surface thereof, and having a vertical wall adjacent and parallel to the edge of the base of the rail and surfaces for engaging the depending side walls of said brace member when the latter is disposed thereover in bracing position, whereby the brace member is prevented from movement longitudinally of the rail, said positioning member having atleast one cut-out to receive the square head and shank of a securing bolt to anchor the same, said brace member having at least one hole therein through which the securing bolt may be passed, if desired, so that the brace member may be bolted with respect to the base plate, the portion of said cutout adapted to receive the square head of the securing bolt being square with its entrant walls at an acute angle from a line perpendicular to the edge of the rail.

2. A rail brace comprising, a base plate, the upper surface of which is provided with first and second abutments spaced from each other and adapted when in operative position to be disposed on opposite sides of a rail with the first abutment engaging one edge of the rail base, and. the other being spaced from the opposite edge of the rail, a brace member having a portion adapted to be positioned on said base plate, a top portion extending to a point beneath the head of the rail, and depending side walls the lower edges of which engage the upper surface of the base of the rail, said portion adapted to be positioned on said base plate having a side surface facing said second abutment, the facing surfaces of said brace member and said second abutment being contained in non-parallel vertical planes, a wedge having side surfaces complementary to said facing surfaces of said brace member and said second abutment, a tongueand-groove connection between said Wedge and indicated by the scope of the claims which follow. A

I claim:

1. A rail brace comprising, a base plate, the upper surface of which is provided with first and second abutments spaced from each other and adapted when in operative position to be disposed on opposite sides of a rail with the first abutment engaging one edge of the rail base, and the other being spaced from the opposite edge of the rail, a brace member having a portion adapted to be positioned on said base plate, a top portion extending to a point beneath the head of the rail, and depending side walls the lower edges of which engage the upper surface of the base of the rail, said portion adapted to be positioned on said base plate having a side surface facing said second abutment, the facing said second abutment, said groove having a vertical distance greater than said tongue, and facing surfaces of said wedge and said brace member forming a cylinder and socket joint when the wedge is driven in place in a longitudinal direction between said brace member and said second abutment, and a positioning member rigid with the base plate and extending upwardly from the upper surface thereof, and having a vertical wall adjacent and parallel to the edge of the base of the rail, and surfaces for engaging the depending side walls of said brace member when the latter is disposed thereover in bracing position, whereby the brace member is prevented from movement longitudinally of the rail, said positioning member having at least one cut-out to receive the square head and shank of a securing bolt to anchor the same, said brace member having at least one hole therein through which the securing bolt may be passed, if desired, so that the brace member may be bolted with respect to the base plate, the portionof said cut-out adapted to receive the square head of the securing bolt being square with its'en trant walls at an acute angle from a line per pendicular to the edge of the rail, said positioning member having an opening communicating with said cut-out and extending through the base of said vertical wall of said positioning member.

' JAMES H. ASSELIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 10 Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Blaine Oct. 22, 1907 Henderson Nov. 26, 1912 Edwards Dec. 25, 1923 Steward et a1 Mar. 31, 1936 Asselin Aug. 19, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Dec. 1, 1932 

